I was curious about finance and surfed the web for the best book for laymen like me. The title came up but I did not dig into it. However, when I walked in different libraries in my graduate school of Waseda University, I frequently saw it in both Japanese and English versions, which means it is seemingly popular. So I decided to read it. I put it in my iPhone, printed out some pages and also borrow the English version from my library.
The book is fun to read, plain, coherent and very insightful. I did not get bored reading any part of the book. In fact, I greatly enjoyed reading it. Not only his writing skill that keeps me reading it till the end but also the issues he is trying to deal with that arouses my curiosity. Below are some main ideas he deals with.
Work for Other or Run Your Own Business?
If you were born in a family who owns no business, like my family, you tend to focus on secure job and wage you receive per month. At worst, you even hate businessmen as you were taught, by religion perhaps, that profit is a sin. There is a high chance you were taught that aspiration to acquire wealth is bad and you have to control this kind of sinful ambition.
Even if you were born in a family who owns a (successful) business, perhaps it is not your choice to continue the business. You may like working in a company, for a government or charity organization or run a different business instead of fulfilling your parents' wish to continue their business.
This book would help you answer this question. Spoiler: the answer of course varies from one person to another.
Can You Become Rich?
Throughout this book, he teaches readers about financial literacy you may have not learned elsewhere. He teaches not only that you can become rich ( I am not talking about every one being a millionaire), but also that you should want to become rich. Of course not all people aspire to become rich or exceptionally rich. There are also significant number of people who desperately want to be rich. In either case, instead of saying you should become a millionaire, he just wants to share his experience of how you can unlock your potentials to increase your wealth, thus the wealth of the society.
Government or Entrepreneur?
Again, this book touches the debate of how far the government should intervene in private life. What the use of business is in the society? What is the use of government then? Are you sure you know it?
Does Smart Mean Rich?
Of course not, exclaim you. Rich does not imply smart as well. However, it is a sad thing when you are smart when stay poor, or when you are rich but stay dumb.
Final Words
What the most important concept in this book is that he does not say you have to be an entrepreneur, to work in a government sector, in a private company or else. Ask yourself what you like and do best, and plan for it, but in addition to it business is important. The concept of business can raise your wealth in a great deal. Raising your wealth is not a sin. In stead it means you provide goods or service in return for the wealth.
I believe this book will change your mindsets, for good, toward education, business, government and society.
Full title: Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Author: Robert T. Kiyosaki
Publisher: Plata Publishing; 8.2.2011 edition (August 16, 2011)
My rating : 5/5
Full title: Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Author: Robert T. Kiyosaki
Publisher: Plata Publishing; 8.2.2011 edition (August 16, 2011)
My rating : 5/5
